Survey of Data Network Infrastructure Options for Rural Areas A Platform for Asynchronous Messaging Team Members: Stephane Guerraz, Sukun Kim, Adam Ludwin, Hong Qu, and Tu Tran

Application: SEWAA case study Research Questions 1) What network architectures can cost-effectively deploy text, voice, image, video services using IP, asynchronous delivery methods? 2) What commercially viable methods can support these services? Application: SEWAA case study

Method for evaluating sustainability Demand for ICT Cost Estimator Network cost Kiosk cost Setup cost Operating cost Revenue Model Income level Usage freq Pop density Savings from ICT Application Services Setup Costs = Software + Hardware + Installation + Training + Depreciation Operating Costs = Utilities + Telcom Services + Rent + Labor + Advertising Telecenter Telecenter Telecenter

What do we mean by asynchronous delivery methods? Kiosks Kiosk Kiosk Kiosk Synchronous Network Data Center / ISP

What do we mean by asynchronous delivery methods? Kiosks Kiosk Kiosk Kiosk Synchronous Network Data Center / ISP

Bandwidth Comparison

Calculating cost of Network Operating Costs Set-up Costs Bandwidth Requirement per village Distance & Geographic factor Application Profile & population Traffic Estimator

Why collective franchise model? Scalability Securing loan repayment through collective responsibility (mutuality) Creating peer-pressure to perform Creating a community of local entrepreneurs with exchange of best practices

Costs vs Revenues Application Services Cost Estimator Revenue Model Setup Costs: 400$ Operating Cost: 50$/mth Revenue Model 200$/mth Application Services

Sewaa Financially Sustainable Telecenter Telecenter Telecenter

Findings Developed a network cost estimator Developed a revenue-generating business model Synthesized technology costs with business model Final Product: General guidelines for evaluating rural connectivity projects

The End

Challenges of bringing connectivity to rural areas Unreliable electricity Limited/non-existent telecom infrastructure Poor roads infrastructure Diverse Topology Low village density Residents High illiteracy rate Limited business skills Little technology skills Lack of access to capital

Benefits of asynchronous interaction at hardware and application levels Less power requirements: less energy spent having the radio on. Decrease maintenance costs since down time only increases delay; it doesn’t disable service Application Level* Bandwidth requirement can be lower Decrease network technology costs Limits over utilization: more users possible since full-time access does not need to be guaranteed * Our focus

Satellite (LEO, GEO-VSAT)

Wireless - CDMA CorDECT WiFi

Wired Internet Modem Kiosk Kiosk Server Modem Kiosk Modem Kiosk

Wireless Technologies (1)

Wireless Technologies (2)

Network Cost Estimator

Network Cost Estimator (cont.)

Inputs to Network Cost Estimator

Cost vs Bandwidth

Cost vs Density

What we did Surveyed various network architectures using metrics Given the density of villages and the bandwidth requirement, estimated the cost of each network architecture. Developed a business model for sustainability Bandwidth Range Latency Installation cost Operating costs

Network Model

Infrastructure Installation Cost Given bandwidth requirement per village, density of villages, geographical complexity, total number of villages Estimate multiplicity of each link in communication network Estimate total number of links Add data center, installation, administration cost

File Sizes Text: 700 page book in ASCII = 1 MB Voice: 4 minute MP3 = 3.8 MB at 128 kbs Image: GIF = 500 KB, JPG = 100 KB Video: Without compression = 100 Mbs, with compression = 45Mbs *Information from “The Information Economy” research by U.C. Berkeley SIMS Professor Hal Varian

Case Study: SEWAA Opportunities Issues Communication (email, voice/video mail) Agricultural info and marketing Provide government services Tourism revenue Job creation by attracting outsourcing projects Issues Technology phobia Lack of relevant content in the local language Business model: connectivity at affordable cost

Case Study: SEWAA Rural Telecenter in Uttaranchal, India Himalayan region: a hostile geography Isolated small villages Mountainous terrain Poor connectivity for roads and tele-com Unreliable electricity Possible Network Technologies Wired phone line Local Wireless Loop (corDECT) Satellite

Case Study: SEWAA – What we’ve decided Mountainous terrain precludes wireless technology, such as Wi-Fi, CorDECT, and cellular Satellite too expensive at this point Stage 1 network: dial-up Asynchronous connectivity – download common files, store and access locally, store and distribute multi-media on CD

Member Roles Business Analysis Technology Analysis Stephane Guerraz Adam Ludwin Technology Analysis Sukun Kim Hong Qu Tu Tran